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The two grizzled veterans have been doing battle with each other for nearly two decades.

They were at it again Friday night as the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Phoenix Coyotes.

“It’s always good to go up against a guy in that age-group, so to speak,” said Smyth prior to the game. “He’s a guy that I’ve known for numerous years and am good friends with.

“You want to match the intensity against him and you look forward to games against him.”

Smyth, 37, was selected by the Oilers in the first round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft and has played most of his career in Edmonton.

Doan, 37, should have been selected by the Oilers in the first round of the 1995 draft, but was passed over for Steve Kelly.

Doan went on to be selected seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets and has remained with the franchise, through their move to Phoenix, for his entire career.

Friday was Doan’s 1,284th career regular season game. Smyth was playing in his 1,241st game.

“I got to know Smytty when we were 12 years old,” Doan said. “It’s something to be able to play with someone when they’re young and get to know them when we’re young, it’s always special.

“We live on the Shuswap together, so our families can spend a little bit of time together. Obviously his career here in Edmonton has been pretty special and all that he’s accomplished here.

“He’s one of those guys that everybody knows and how well he’s played and what he’s done. It’s special to have a friend like that.”

Back to old habits

So much for the positive vibes the Oilers had going into their game against the Coyotes.

Having out-shot the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday in a 2-1 loss, the Oilers believe they were heading in the right direction.

Apparently, they weren’t.

The Oilers gave up three first-period goals, then essentially went through the motions for the rest of the contest in a lack-luster contest against the Coyotes.

The Oilers went into the game having lost all three previous meetings against the Coyotes this year. They were shelled 6-2 the last time Phoenix was in town.

Change it up

The Oilers made a couple of lineup changes Friday, with Anton Belov and Nail Yakupov drawing back in.

Yakupov was back in the lineup after sitting out the previous two games, courtesy a Matt Cooke hit last week against the Minnesota Wild.

The Oilers wanted to go through all the concussion protocols before allowing the Russian winger back on the ice. Yakupov said he did not suffer any concussion-like symptoms and was just kept out of the lineup for precautionary reasons.

He took Luke Gazdic’s place in the lineup.

“It’s nothing against Luke,” said Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins. “Just with the Olympic break coming up, we want to keep everyone involved. That’s a long time without playing if a guy is sitting out a lot before the break.”

Belov drew back in for Nick Schultz. The Russian defenceman was paired with Corey Potter, who recently returned to the lineup himself having struggled with a groin injury.

Hanzal returns

The Phoenix Coyotes are a different team with Martin Hanzal in the lineup.

Who wouldn’t be, with a six-foot-six, 230-pound centre with good hands, who has 14 goals and 34 points on the season heading into Friday’s contest?

Hanzal had been out of the lineup for the previous two games with a lower-body injury. He took the morning skate with the Coyotes, but was unsure of his status up until game time.

“Now with the schedule the way it is, where we play ever other day, I didn’t want to rush it back and do the same thing again,” said Hanzal, who would not disclose the injury. “I wanted to take it easy, but it’s always tough when can’t help your teammates. We now lost two in a row and it’s always tough just watching your teammates and not being able to help them.”